Improvement in machines for putting up medical powders



3 SheetSV-.Sheet 1.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. HHEBR'EN. Machine fol1 `Putting up Medical Powders.

.No.1 ,645. Patented'llan. 29,1878.r

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. E. HEEREN.

Machine for Putting up Medical Powders. N0.199,645.` Patentedlah; 29,1878.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

WILLIAM E. HEEREN, or PITTsBuEc, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR PUTTING UP MEDICAL PGWDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. [99,645, dated January 29, 1878; application filed p August 10, 1877.

To all whom it may conce-rn:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM E. HEEREN, of Pittsburg, county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Putting Up Medical Powders; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear,

concise, and exact description thereof, referx" ence being had to the accompanying drawings,

making a part of this specication, in which-` like letters indicating like parts- Figure l shows, in elevation,my improved machine for putting up medical powders. Fig. I 2 isa top plan view of the sam Fig. 3 is a I vertical sectional view of detached parts, showing them in their proper order of succession. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the folding devices,

showing also the gearing which operates the several parts, the view being on the opposite side from that in Figs. l and 2. Fig. 5 is a-j detached plan view of the valve which regulates the charge of powder. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of folders employed for givingone form of fold. (ShowninFigs. 12,13.)

Fig. 7 is a like sectional view of folders employed for giving a second form of fold, as shown I in Fig. ll. Fig. 8 is alike sectional view of still another form of folders, used for making apackage, as shown in Fig. l0, and Fig. 9 shows, in

section, the rolls employed in my machine,l

with an outline view of the position of the paper as it passes through the rolls, and also l an outline of folders employed.

My present invention relates to a machine` for putting up medical powders, the paper being taken from a continuous roll, divided, and folded into separate packages, eachpackage being charged with a determinate amount of sugar or powder, and the several packages arranged upon a counting device, ready for pack- 111g.

the machine in the following way and with the following steps; It is first passed through a guide or folder, C, which-is shown in section,

In the drawings, A represents the bed-plate of the machine, which may be supported in any suitable wa B,`Fig. l, is a reel supf -ported on the bed-plate,and carrying a roll of Fig. 6. This folder O `gives a U form to the paper. From this folder the paperis passed to a second folder, D. The form of this folder is also shown in section, Fig. 6, and the forni given the paper is there shown in dotted lines, the edges of the paper being carried or bent over, one upon the other, somewhat. From` this folder D, I prefer to pass the paper through still a third folder, E, which is also shown in Fig. 6. The effect of this folder E is to bend the edges of the paper still closer upon each other, and carry the under edge up to, or nearly to, the fold of the upper edge, as shown in dotted lines, sectionE, Fig. 6. The proper relation and position of the upper and under edges of the folded paper is also secured, in a measure, by the proper alignment of these sev- Y eral folders with relation to each` other and the rest of the apparatus, a slight lateral adjustment varying somewhat the position of the edges and of the folds. These folders may be two or more in number. I have shown them mounted on stands or supports F, which rest on and. are attached to the bed-plate. This attachment may be made by screws, or in any convenient way which will admit of adjustment. The relative positions in which I prefer to place these formers or folders are shown in Figs. I and 2. The distance between them and the other parts .of the machine will, however, depend somewhat on the character of the paper used, stiff and heavy paper requiring more room in which to bend than light paper. Y After leaving the third former, E, the paper is passed between two pressure-rolls, R, which operate to draw or feed forward, and also to press down and make tight the folds in the paper made by the folding-guides. I prefer to coat these rollers, one or both, with rubber or other elastic coating, so that they may give somewhat and pass over the charges of sugar or powder which are previously deposited in the paper, as hereinafter described, and not crush or force the same out through the paper. These rolls R are mounted in suitable housings H, and are provided with the usual pressure-blocks and vadjustingfscrews. They are also driven at proper speed by a system of gear-wheels, as hereinafter described.

After leaving the rolls-R the paper is given a half twist or turn, as shown in Fig. 9. This turn is given the paper so as to bring the longitudinal fold on the opposite side from the folded ends in the finished package, or, in other words, so that the ends may be folded away from the side on which the longitudinal fold is made, as a tighter package is thus secured. The paper is then passed through a guide or thimble, y, and between the upper two of a series or train of three-high rolls, Rl Rl R3. These upper rolls Itl R2 operate to feed or carry forward the paper, and also further conipress the same, as in the case of the rolls R, and in addition to this they also crease the paper transverselyr by means of ribs or creasers e and el on the roll Rl, working against metallic strips e2 and e3 on the roll R2. The creases thus formed facilitate the bending over of the ends of the package, as hereinafter described, and they also serve to indent and compress the package at these points, so as to prevent the inclosed powder from sifting out through the ends.

y A knife, c, is also arranged upon the face of the roll Itl, which works against a metallic or other suitable strip, cl, on the roll R2. By means of this knife the several blanks or s ections are cut from. the continuous strip of a length corresponding to the circumference of the rolls.

The face of the middle roll R2, between the strips e2 c3 and cl, is, by preference, covered with some elastic substance, as in the case of the rolls R, and for a like reason. These rolls Rl, R2, and R3 are mounted in housings H', and are provided with the usual pressureblocks and adjusting-screws for securing the desired adjustment. They are also driven by suitable gearing, as presently described.

' One effect of the creaser e, which follows next after the knife c, is to indent transversely the upper side of the paper and give the free end au upward direction. As the paper is carried along by the rolls Rl R2 it strikes against the curved guide d, which is attached to the housings H. This guide deflects the end of the paper upward still more, bending it along the crease made, and as theoperation proceeds the strip of paper will pass out from under the guide, the point of bend being foremost, and the free end bent back upon the strip. 'As the strip is passed along it is creased by the second creaser, el, preparatory to folding over the other end of the package, and in due time this creased blank or section is cut from the strip by the knife c.

In order to bend back this last-creased end, I make use of the following device: A springclip, h h', is secured to a rock-shaft, k, which is mounted in suitable bearings on an adjustable table-frame, P. lThis table is secured to an angle-iron, p, bymeans of bolts and slots i, so as to be adjustable up or down, and the an gle-iron p is secured to the bed-plate A by means of bolts and slots z", so as to be adjustable to and from the rolls. I am thus enabledv to place the shaft k and clip h h in any de sired relation to the rolls. I

A coiled or spiral spring, kl, is arranged between the shaft 7c and table l?, in such manner as to press the clip upward, and athumbscrew, k2, workin g through a suitable support, k3, furnishes a counter stop or rest for the clip, as against pressure from the spring kl. By turningthe screw k2 in or out the clip h h' may be so adjusted that the paper will pass in between the upper and lower plates of the clip as it passes out from under the guide d. The clip thus receives and holds the blank or partially-folded package.

An arm, K, is` adjustably attached to the end of the shaft k, and a set-screw, o2, or other convenient device, binds the arm to the shaft in the desired position. A friction-roller, s, is mounted in any convenient way in the outer end ofthe arm K. v

A wiper or sector, S, is carried by the shaft of the middle roll R2, and an adjustable connection is secured by means of a sleeve, sl, which has a projecting arm, to which the Wiper is secured by bolts or screws c4, the sleeve being bound to the shaft by a set-screw, 03. This wiper S is adjusted to engage the arm K as it turns with the shaft, and press the arm downward until the arc or periphery of the wiper can travel over the friction-wheel s. Depressing the arm K rocks the shaft lcv and depresses the clip h h. "When the wiper S passes the arin K, the arm, shaft, and clip will be raised to their original position by means of the spring kl.

The wiper S is arranged on the roll R2 in,

such position that it will depress the clip immediately after the inclosed package or section has been severed from the main strip of paper by the knife c. The upper plate h of the clip is made of such length as to reach to or nearly to the second crease in the package, and as the clip is carried down it will bend the package at this crease, the free end resting against the roll R2. v

A stop, S', is attached to the inner edge ot' the table P by slots and screws c5, so that it may be adjusted up or down. This stop Sl arrests the descent of the clip in proper position for the rolls R2 and R3 to take a bite upon the package, and pass it through between them. If the clip reaches the stop S alittle before the arm K and shaft k reach the limit of their descent, the upper plate h of the clip will be made to act as a spring, and press the inclosed package against the face of the roll R3, or between the rolls It? and R3, and it will also operate to hold the first folded end down upon the package until such end passes into the rolls. The adjustment and arrangement ofthe wiper S and arm K are such that they are freed from engagement, and the clip is carried up in time to receive the next package as it is passed out from under the guide d.

The nal bend being made in the package between'the descending clip and roll R2, as before described, the rolls R2 and R3 will first take a bite upon the package at such point of bend, and in passing the package through they will not only bend and compress this last end upon the package, but also will give the whole package a final compression, by

which its several folds are more securely xed, The package is thus complete,'and may be dropped from the rolls R2 R3 into any convenient receptacle; them in regular succession in a counting device, as much time is thus saved which would otherwise be consumed in counting and arranging the packages for packing. This device consists of a wheel, A1, having a series of radial spring-plates', a, attached to and projecting out from its face. These plates may be of any desired number, and 'I prefer to divide them into determinate divisions of,

by the shaft A2,

is mounted on the housing H. Connected with the pinion n is a ratchet-wheel, nl, which is operated intermittingly by a pin or wrist, u2,'placed in the end of the journal of the roll R3. The pin n2 is adjusted to give the ratchet nl a positive and definite movement for each revolution of the roll R3,and the amount of this movement is sufficient to cause the pinion n to pass one cog of the wheel A3,

A detent or stop-rod, n3, is attached to the inner edge of the housings H1 in such position asto engage the ends of and bend down the radial plates a; and the adjustment of the several parts is such that upon each movenient of the shaft A2, given through the devices just described, one of these detained platesa is freed from the detent n3. This wheel A1, with its radial plates a, is arranged in front 'of the rollskRzyRS, and in such position that, as a finished package is passed through these rolls, it will pass onto the detained plate, such plate operating as a table to receive it. When the plate is liberatedV from the detent n3 it will, by its spring-power, carry the package up and hold it next to the preceding plate. i

The devices described being properly ar-` ranged, each package will be -received in turn by these "spring-p ates a', until all are full, ,or divisionsgare full, whenthe packages may be removed 'm defi-xr nite numbers, arranged ready for packing in until one or moe of the I will now describe the gearing by which* but I prefer to deposit,`

This geef-` wheel A3 gears with ,an idler-pinion, n, which carries a pinion, o, which gears with a correspondingpinion on the lower roll. A

VThe middle roll, R2, is driven by a wheel, O2, gearing with the drive-wheel, and the rolls It* and R3 are driven by pinions o1 o2, which gear into a corresponding pinion on the roll R2. These gear-wheels are all arranged with reference to driving their respective rolls at proper rates of speed, so as to keep the several part-s of the machine in proper working relation.

I prefer to make the'several rolls equal, and arrange them and the other devices so that a complete package shall be made at each revolution of the rolls.

I will now describe the device by which powder or sugar is deposited in the several packages during the course of their construction. A hopper or funnel, P1, is supported on suitable standards P, and is placed directly over the strip of paper yb, and between the first and second folders or guides, where the paper has a U form, as described. The nozzle p2 of this hopper or funnel is opened and closed by a ro,- tary or other suitable valve.

, Fig. 5 shows one form of valve, that may be employed where the valve c is closed bya4 spring, fv', and opened by the action of a pivoted lever, v2. This lever is operated by means of la connecting-rod, o3, which passes from the outer end of the lever e2 to one end or armof a' bell-crank lever, o4, which is piv-.

^ oted to a standard, M. The other arm of this bell-crank is engaged and raised at eachrevolut'ion of the wheel Ol by a pin` or wrist, w, which projects out from the wheel. As this bell-crank v4 is thus operated, the valve c will,

through the described connections, be alter-- nately opened by it, and closed by the action of the spring el as soon as the pin w passes the lever c, When these devicesare properly arranged the valve u will be opened at proper intervals for the passage of powder from the hopper to the paper.

In order to secure a certain and uniform deposit of powder, I make use of a plunger, m, which is drawn upward by means of a lever, m1, pivoted to a standard, m2. One end of this lever m1 is connected to the top of the plunger m by means of a link, m3, and the opposite end is connected bya rod, mf, with 011e armV of` a bell-crank lever, m4, which is pivoted and operated inthe same manner as the bell.- crank e, As, `the bell-crank 'm4 and connec-` tions are thus operated' the plunger m will be raised, and while soraised the sugaror powder inthe hopper will lill the (space between the lower face .of the plunger ,and the valve fv. Theivalvebeing opened, ,as described, :and the pin fw having the plunger m" will be forced downv by the coiled spring jat', and la Vdefinite amount of powder will be forced out through the valveport to the paper. In order ,tol regulate the amount of this discharge, as desired, l make passed the bellfcrank m4 use of an adjusting-screw, 'm6, on the kconnecting-rod m5. By means of thisf screw m6 theA connecting-rod m5 may be len gthenedorshortened, and thel working position of the plunger m, or rather the time. and extent of its operation, isvaried in relation to the action of the valve c.V This results in varying the amount of powder forced out by the plunger, and by means of this or an equivalent device for securing the requisite adjustment the desire( through a, corresponding nut, wl, which may be iixed in any convenient way to the top of the hopper. As thel plunger is moved vertically it will alsobe turned or rotated by this spiral thread and nut. Radial wires or laments w3 project out from the lower end of the vplunger within the hopper. These filaments move with the plunger, and, by their combined vertical and rotary motion, they eectually stir up and` pulverize the contents of the hopper, so that it readily iills the space between the plunger and valve, as already described. `The down.A

ward'action of the plunger, and the discharge made thereby, is prompt, andthe powder is left in the paper in separate and well-defined deposits. Y

Theposition of thehopper-Ilis such that the deposit is made at a point in` .the paper which will be midway between the creases made for folding the ends, and the rolls having elastic faces, as described, the powder will not be spread out. by them, so as to get outside of such creases.. l

I have shown in Fig. 13 avpackage folded in the manner hereinbefore described, and Fig. 12shows the lines of fold. Some practitioners, however, prefer other forms of packages, specimens of which I have shown inFigs. l0- and Il. Theseor other forms may be made when required by using properly-shaped folders or guides. Ihave shown sectional .views of folders used in making such packages in Figs. 7 and 8.; In Fig. 7, C, D, and El show transverse sections of folders used in making package as in Fig. 11,1744 r2 showing the folds giventhe paper by folders D-1 and El, and Fig. 8 shows, at .02D2 E2, like sections of folders used in making package as in Fig.y I0, r3 r4 showing the successive longitudinal folds given the paper; Fig. 9 shows side views of the folders. shown in section, Fig. 8, and alsoshows the proper arrangement of creasers and cutter for. folding l the ends ofthe package, as in Fig-10.

These modications shown will suffice to indicate to the skilled operator the form of fold-4 ingguide necessary to produce the 'required form of package.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. In amachine -forfolding packages for medical powders, the combination of a series of `twoor more folding-guides, one or more pairs of compressing-rolls, and a pair of rolls having in their peripheries longitudinal creasers and cutters for the transverse creasing and cutting of the packages, substantially as set forth. v-

2. In a machine for putting up medical p0w.

- ders, the f combination of a series of two or more folding-guides, a device adapted to give an intermittent feed of powder arranged between such folders, one or morepairs of rolls having ontheir peripheries longitudinal creasers and cuttersforthe` transverse creasing and cutting of the packages, substantially as set forth. l

3. As a means of folding the ends of a package for medical powders, the combination of a pair of creasing-rolls, a guide for bending back the free end, a pair of compressing-rolls, and a device for carrying the Vpackage from the creasing to the compressing rolls, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for putting up medical pow- I ders, the combination ofy a folding device and a counting device, `substantially as described,`

wherebythe finished packages are arranged in regular order and number.

5. In a machine for folding packages for medical powders, a pair of rolls having longiy tudinal creasers and cutters in their periph-- eries for the transverse creasing and cutting of the packages, in combination with compressling-rolls R, R, Itz, and R3, substantiallyfas set forth. I y 6. In combination, with the-hopper of a machine for puttingup powders, a vertically and` rotary moving plunger, substantially asand for the purpose: specified. l

7. The combination of a hopper for holding the powder, a valve to regulate the discharge, and a vertically and rotary moving plunger to pulverize the powder-and'facilitate the dis= charge', .substantially asset forth.

8. As a means of conveying packages fromone setof rolls to another, the combination of A clip h h", shaft k, lspring k1, arm- K, and wiper j S, substantially as set forth; l

9. As a counting. device in a 'machine for"` putting up powders, the combination of a detent or` stop, n3, and a wheel, A1, having a series of spring-plates arranged radially thereon,

such wheel `being connected with the folding apparatus by suitable gearing, for giving intermittent motion, substantially as set forth. In testimonywhereof I havehereunto set my hand. 'Y

' .WILLIAM EfHEER/EN.

`Viitnesses: Y, Y I

, J. J. McCoRMIc'K,

OLAUDrUs L. PARKER. 

